Coupler operating device



Dec. 19, 1933. A, E S LL 1,939,929

COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1931- 12 6 7 fforney Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,939,929 COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Arthur E. Small, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Union Metal Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 2'7, 1931 Serial No. 577,544

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for operating a railway car coupler having a pivoted knuckle provided with a tail engageable with a knuckle lock to which such device is operatively con- 5 nected. The invention relates specifically to a railway car coupler having an anti-creep feature which is so formed that the lock can be raised to an unlocked position by the operating device, but cannot be raised by the creeping action of the lock due to the service movements of the car. Some of such couplers are provided with a member mounted upon the coupler head for transmitting operating movement to the lock, and operable by the rotation of an operating rod attached thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide an operating rod for such a coupler having a shank which is so formed and associated with parts of the car or preferably a bracket mounted on the car so as to stabilize the rod by gravityagainst a swinging movement of the handle of the operating rod which causes a rotative movement thereof which would release the coupler anti-creep feature.

In the drawing:

The coupler 2 is mounted upon the car in the usual manner to move lengthwise and sidewise of the car in service and is provided with a rotor or lever or other member 3 arranged to operate the coupler upon rotation of the operating rod 4 which is attached thereto.

The bracket 6 is mounted upon the car and the bar '7 is pivotally attached to the bracket 6 to swing only in a plane substantially normal to the end wall of the car. The bracket 6 is provided with a shoulder, stop or other means to limit the downward movement of the bar 7.

The operating rod 4 has a slidable and nonrotative movement with the bar 7 which, in the form illustrated, is accomplished by flattening the operating rod 4 (as shown in Fig. 5) a distance a little greater than the lateral movement of the coupler in service. This flattening provides lateral extensions 12 or ribs which engage notches 13 in the bar. Any similar arrangement may be used. The outer end of the operating rod is provided with a crank or handle 15 for manually operating the device.

When the handle 15 is swung outwardly by the operator, the non-rotative engagement between the operating rod 4 and the bar 7 causes 50 the bar to swing upwardly about the pivot 16,

.bar 7 without removing the bar 7 from the bracket 6 or removing the bracket 6 from the car. The filler 20 is retained in position by the spring cotter 21.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the pre ferredform of the invention, though it is to 7 be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art. 30

I claim:

1. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a car coupler having a member mounted upon the coupler arranged to operate said coupler upon rotation of an operating rod, said means comprising a bracket mounted upon the car provided with a substantially horizontal shelf, a bar pivotally mounted upon said bracket to swing only in a plane substantially normal to the end wall of the car, said bar normally resting upon said shelf to limit the downward swinging movement of the bar, and an operating rod. havinga slidable, non-rotative engagement with said bar eccentric from the pivot of said bar, said operating rod operatively connected to said member at its inner end and provided with a handleadjacentits outer end. I

I 2. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a car coupler having a member mounted upon the coupler arranged to operate said coupler upon rotation of an operating rod, said means comprising a bar pivotally mounted upon the car to swing only in a plane substantially normal to the end wall of the car, means to limit the downward swinging movement of the bar, an 5 operating rod having a slidable, non-rotative engagement with said bar eccentric from the pivot of said bar, said operating rod operatively connected to said member at its inner end and provided with a handle adjacent its outer end, and removable means to retain the operating rod in engagement with said bar whereby the operating rod may be disengaged from the bar without disconnecting the operating rod from the coupler.

ARTHUR E1. SMALL. 

